Image Forming Device, Printer Complex System and Medium Conveying Device for the Device, Information Processing Unit for Supplying Image Data to the Image Forming Device, and Image Forming System and Image Forming Method Provided with These

Abstract

To meet a demand for changing a print medium size, particularly for increasing the size of print medium while at the same time satisfying the demand for higher printing speed. To that end, a plurality of printer units ( 116 ), which are spatially independent of each other (separate from each other) and also independent in the signal system and the ink system, are arranged in an appropriate layout to allow for a line-sequential printing. An information processing device ( 100 ) divides a generated image into a plurality of pieces of print data and transfers them to the plurality of printer units. A transport device ( 117 ) is installed to feed a large-sized print medium to an area where the plurality of printer units are arranged. The transport device transfers to each of the plurality of printer units a print timing signal corresponding to the position of each printer unit.

1 - 31 . (canceled)  
   
   
       32 . An image forming system comprising: 
 an information processing device serving as a source of image data to be printed;    a plurality of printer units separate from each other, each independently having a print head, with each print head having print elements arrayed therein in a predetermined direction, the plurality of printer units being arranged in a main scan direction in a state in which the predetermined direction is set to the main scan direction; and    a medium transport device to feed a print medium relative to the plurality of printer units;    wherein the information processing device includes:    means for generating a plurality of print data by dividing the image data into corresponding positions of the printer units in the main scan direction; and    means for transferring the generated print data to the corresponding printer units, and    wherein each of the plurality of printer units includes:    means for executing a printing operation for the transferred print data in response to a print timing signal supplied in synchronism with transport of the print medium by the transport device.    
   
   
       33 . An image processing method for an image forming system comprised of an information processing device serving as a source of image data to be printed, a plurality of printer units separate from each other, each independently having a print head, with each print head having print elements arrayed therein in a predetermined direction, the plurality of printer units being arranged in a main scan direction in a state in which the predetermined direction is set to the main scan direction and a medium transport device to feed a print medium relative to the plurality of printer units, the method comprising the steps of: 
 causing the information processing device to generate a plurality of print data by dividing the image data into corresponding positions of the printer units in the main scan direction;    causing the information processing device to transfer the generated print data to the corresponding printer units; and    causing the plurality of printer units to execute a printing operation for the transferred print data in response to a print timing signal supplied in synchronism with transport of the print medium by the transport device.    
   
   
       34 . An information processing device for use with an image forming system, including a plurality of printer units separate from each other, each independently having a print head, with each print head having print elements arrayed therein in a predetermined direction, the plurality of printer units being arranged in a main scan direction in a state in which the predetermined direction is set to the main scan direction, and a medium transport device to feed a print medium relative to the plurality of printer unit, said device comprising: 
 means for generating a plurality of print data by dividing image data into corresponding positions of the printer units in the main scan direction; and    means for transferring the generated print data to the corresponding printer units.    
   
   
       35 . An information processing device as claimed in  claim 34 , further comprising means for recognizing the number of the printer units, and their respective assigned print areas in the main scan direction.  
   
   
       36 . An information processing device as claimed in  claim 35 , further comprising means for setting a division number for the image data based on the recognized number of printer units.  
   
   
       37 . An information processing device as claimed in  claim 35 , further comprising means for setting a width of the image to be divided based on the recognized number of printer units.  
   
   
       38 . An information processing device as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein generation of the print data corresponding to the individual areas by the print data generation means and a transfer of the print data to the plurality of printer units by the data transfer means are processed in parallel, and the data transfer means transfers the print data to the plurality of printer units simultaneously.  
   
   
       39 . An information processing device as claimed in  claim 36 , further comprising means for displaying on a layout screen boundary lines superimposed on an image to be printed, the boundary lines being determined according to the division number set by the division number setting means.  
   
   
       40 . An information processing method for an image forming system comprised of an information processing device serving as a source of image data to be printed, a plurality of printer units separate from each other, each independently having a print head, with each print head having print elements arrayed therein in a predetermined direction, the plurality of printer units being arranged in a main scan direction in a state in which the predetermined direction is set to the main scan direction, and a medium transport device to feed a print medium relative to the plurality of printer units, said method comprising the steps of: 
 causing the information processing device to generate a plurality of print data by dividing the image into corresponding positions of the printer units in the main scan direction; and    causing the information processing device to transfer the generated print data to the corresponding printer units.    
   
   
       41 . An image forming apparatus for use with an image forming system having an information processing device serving as a source of image data to be printed, comprising: 
 a plurality of printer units separate from each other, each independently having a print head, with each print head having print elements arrayed therein in a predetermined direction, the plurality of printer units being arranged in a main scan direction in a state in which the predetermined direction is set to the main scan direction; and    a medium transport device to feed a print medium relative to the plurality of printer units;    wherein each of the plurality of printer units includes:    means for executing a printing operation for the transferred print data in response to a print timing signal supplied in synchronism with transport of the print medium by the transport system.    
   
   
       42 . An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the plurality of printer units are arranged in the main scan direction within a range substantially equal to a total of array ranges of the print elements of the print heads of all the printer units, and the plurality of printer units extends also in a subscan direction which is a print medium transport direction, and the print timing signal includes a print start signal independently supplied to each of the printer units according to a position in the subscan direction and a print medium position signal commonly supplied to enable the plurality of printer units to execute a printing operation according to a position of the print medium being transported.  
   
   
       43 . An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein said medium transport device comprises: 
 means for detecting a position of the print medium being transported; and    means for outputting the print timing signal according to the detected position.    
   
   
       44 . An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the plurality of printer units extends also in a subscan direction which is the print medium transport direction, and the print timing signal includes a print start signal independently supplied to each of the plurality of printer units according to a position in the subscan direction and a print medium position signal commonly supplied to enable the plurality of printer units to execute a printing operation according to a position of the print medium being transported.  
   
   
       45 . A printer complex system, comprising: 
 a plurality of printer units separate from each other, each independently having a print head, with each print head having print elements arrayed therein in a predetermined direction;    a support member to arrange and support the plurality of printer units in a main scan direction in a state in which the predetermined direction is set to the main scan direction; and    a medium transport device to feed a print medium relative to the plurality of printer units,    wherein each of the plurality of printer units includes:    means for receiving print data which is divided into corresponding positions in the main scan direction; and    means for executing a printing operation of the received print data in response to a print timing signal supplied in synchronism with transport of the print medium by the transport device.    
   
   
       46 . An image forming system comprising: 
 a plurality of printer units separate from each other, each independently having a print head, with each print head having print elements arrayed therein in a predetermined direction, the plurality of printer units being arranged so as to cooperate to print an image on a common print medium;    a medium transport device to feed the print medium relative to the plurality of printer units; and    an information processing device to supply a plurality of print data divided corresponding to the plurality of printer units:    wherein each of the plurality of printer units includes:    means for receiving the supplied print data;    means for holding the received print data in the bitmap format; and    means for executing a printing operation for the held print data in response to a print timing signal supplied in synchronism with the transport of the print medium by the transporting device.    
   
   
       47 . An image forming system as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein the plurality of printer units are arranged in a main scan direction within a range substantially equal to a total of array ranges of the print elements of the print heads of all the printer units and in a state in which the predetermined direction is set to the main scan direction, and the plurality of printer units extends also in a subscan direction which is a print medium transport direction, and the print timing signal includes a print start signal independently supplied to each of the plurality of printer units according to a position in the subscan direction and a print medium position signal commonly supplied to enable the plurality of printer units to execute a printing operation according to a position of the print medium being transported.  
   
   
       48 . An image forming apparatus for use with an image forming system having an information processing device to supply a plurality of print data divided corresponding to a plurality of printer units, the apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of printer units separate from each other, each independently having a print head, with each print head having print elements arrayed therein in a predetermined direction, the plurality of printer units being arranged so as to cooperate to print an image on a common print medium; and    a medium transport device to feed the print medium relative to the plurality of printer units;    wherein each of the plurality of printer units includes:    means for receiving the supplied print data;    means for holding the received print data in the bitmap format; and    means for executing a printing operation for the held print data in response to a print timing signal supplied in synchronism with the transport of the print medium by the transport device.    
   
   
       49 . An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein the plurality of printer units are arranged in a main scan direction within a range substantially equal to a total of array ranges of the print elements of the print heads of all the printer units and in a state in which the predetermined direction is set to the main scan direction, and the plurality of printer units extends also in a subscan direction which is a print medium transport direction, and the print timing signal includes a print start signal independently supplied to each of the plurality of printer units according to a position in the subscan direction and a print medium position signal commonly supplied to enable the plurality of printer units to execute a printing operation according to a position of the print medium being transported.  
   
   
       50 . An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein said medium transport device comprises: 
 means for determining a position of the print medium being transported; and    means for outputting the print timing signal according to the direction.    
   
   
       51 . An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 50 , wherein the plurality of printer units are arranged in a main scan direction within a range substantially equal to a total of array ranges of the print elements of the print heads of all the printer units and in a state in which the predetermined direction is set to the main scan direction, and the plurality of printer units extends also in a subscan direction which is a print medium transport direction, and the print timing signal includes a print start signal independently supplied to each of the plurality of printer units according to a position in the subscan direction and a print medium position signal commonly supplied to enable the plurality of printer units to execute a printing operation according to a position of the print medium being transported.  
   
   
       52 . A printer complex system used for an image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 48 , the system comprising: 
 a plurality of printer units separate from each other, each independently having a print head, with each print head having print elements arrayed therein in a predetermined direction;    a support member to arrange and support the plurality of printer units in a main scan direction in a state in which the predetermined direction is set to the main scan direction; and    a medium transport device to feed the print medium relative to the plurality of printer units,    wherein each of the plurality of printer units includes:    means for receiving the supplied print data;    means for holding the received print data in the bitmap format; and    means for executing a printing operation for the held print data in response to a print timing signal supplied in synchronism with the transport of the print medium by the transport device.    
   
   
       53 . A printer complex system as claimed in  claim 52 , wherein the plurality of printer units are arranged in the main scan direction within a range substantially equal to a total of array ranges of the print elements of the print heads of all the printer units, and the plurality of printer units are supported by the support member so as to extend also in a subscan direction which is a print medium transport direction, and the print timing signal includes a print start signal independently supplied to each of the plurality of printer units according to a position in the subscan direction and a print medium position signal commonly supplied to enable the plurality of printer units to execute a printing operation according to a position of the print medium being transported.  
   
   
       54 . A printer complex system as claimed in  claim 52 , wherein the same number of print heads corresponding to the number of colors are arranged side by side in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction in each of the plurality of printer units.  
   
   
       55 . A printer complex system as claimed in  claim 54 , wherein the order of side-by-side arrangement corresponding to the colors in the same among all the printer units.  
   
   
       56 . A printer complex system as claimed in  claim 52 , wherein each of the plurality of printer units uses a print head having ink ejection nozzles as the print elements.  
   
   
       57 . A printer complex system as claimed in  claim 52 , further comprising means for distributing ink in each of the plurality of printer units, wherein each of the plurality of printer units has means for supplying an amount of ink corresponding to the print data to the print head.  
   
   
       58 . A printer complex system as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein each of the plurality of printer units has a tank containing ink distributed from the distribution means and means for bringing the tank into or out of ink communication with the distribution means according to the accommodated ink volume in the tank.  
   
   
       59 . A printer complex system as claimed in  claim 58 , wherein each of the plurality of printer units has means for performing a recovery operation by discharging ink from the print head to maintain an ink ejection performance of the print head in good condition, and means for circulating, to the tank, the discharged ink from the print head in the recovery operation.  
   
   
       60 . A printer complex system as claimed in  claim 52 , wherein each printer unit holds a print head having print elements arrayed therein in a predetermined direction within a predetermined range and can be mounted on the support member.  
   
   
       61 . A printer complex system as claimed in  claim 52 , wherein each printer unit includes: 
 a tank containing ink distributed from distribution means; and    means for bringing the tank into or out of ink communication with the distribution means according to the accommodated ink volume in the tank.    
   
   
       62 . A printer complex system as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein each printer unit includes: 
 means for performing a recovery operation by discharging ink from the print head to maintain an ink ejection performance of the print head in good condition, and    means for circulating, to the tank, the discharged ink from the print head in the recovery operation.    
   
   
       63 . A printer complex system as claimed in  claim 60 , wherein each print head is mountable on the printer unit.  
   
   
       64 . A printer unit for printing data supplied from an information processing device to be printed on a print medium transported by a transport device, the printer unit comprising: 
 means for receiving the print data;    means for holding the received print data in a bitmap format;    means for receiving a print timing signal supplied in synchronism with the transport of the print medium by the transport device; and    means for executing a printing operation of the print data held in the holding means in response to the print timing signal.